Norm Martin enters CSC Music Hall of Fame
A Chadron State College graduate who has used his talents and training in many ways was inducted into the college’s Music Hall of Fame last week during the annual High Plains Festival.
Norm Martin is the eighth Hall of Fame inductee. He is owner of Mar Bow Music and Archery in Chadron and also has performed and taught music dating back to his teens. Martin sings a variety of music, including folk, cowboy, classical, country, bluegrass, rock and gospel and plays the guitar, banjo and bass.
While attending Chadron State in the early 1960s, Martin sang with the choir and Eaglaires and played the clarinet in the concert and marching bands. He had leads in college musicals, gave private guitar lessons and sang on a radio program that provided music training for students in rural schools.
After graduating, he taught music one year in Canada, two years at Mitchell and two years at Chadron High School, where he founded the Cardinal Singers.
In 1975, he took over management of Mar Bow, the family business. Through it, he helps area musicians obtain music and instruments and provides fast, economical repair services.
Over the years, Martin has been a member of several popular music groups, including the “The Esquires,” “The Hat Creek Band,” “Powder River Band,” “Latigo and Lace” and currently “The Bald Mountain Rounders,” a quartet specializing in the bluegrass sound.
He has sung for Fort Robinson and Chadron State Park cookouts, presented living history programs based on the fur trade at area schools, given programs at the Museum of the Fur Trade and entertained at the Fur Trade Days primitive rendezvous since the celebration began in 1977. He also fires a flintlock rifle to start the Colter Run at Fur Trade Days and then sings “The Ballad of John Colter” after the race is finished.
In addition, he had directed the choir at the United Methodist Church since 1973, is co-song leader for the Chadron Rotary Club, frequently joins with his wife Betty to sing at parties, meetings, weddings and funerals and has been a soloist with the Chadron Community Chorus.
He has been taught instrument repair and guitar courses at Chadron State for many years. He annually provides the trophies for the college’s Band Day and High Plains Jazz Festival.
All three of the Martins’ children, Troy, Caryn and Laura, were involved in music while attending Chadron State.
Category: Campus News, Music